We told you about some shows opening in the last few weeks and NOW we have some sweet photographic proof, c'mon, you believed us, right?! Above, M.K. Brown stands outside of the Cartoon Art Museum at Saa Francisco, CA. Her show runs from August 30th until February 15th, 2015. It collects comics and single panel gag cartoons featured in her collection Stranger Than Life (published by Fantagraphics!).

Bill Griffiths of Zippy the Pinhead lists the things he looks for in an amazing cartoonist on the CAM site."- Chronicles the times we live in, but does so in a way that doesn't 'date.'- Juxtaposition, juxtaposition, juxtaposition.- Makes the personal universal, makes the universal personal."

Much of the sketches from inside the court room in addition to paraphenalia and photos from the Gitmo base itself are on display.

For more on Janet's time there as the primary sketch artist, check out her book Sketching Guantanamo: Court Sketches of the Military Tribunals 2006-2013, availabile at your local bookstore, library and our online store. Meanwhile, Jacques Boyreau of Portable Grindhouse,Sexytime and nowSuperTrash just had a month long installation at the PNCA in Portland. On a panel for the high-and-low-art show, Boyreau (second from the left) articulates how we are all creators and purveyors of trash art. The low brow or pop culture of today maybe the only thing that stands the test of time after many tomorrows.Jacques will be appearing at Elliott Bay Books this Sunday at 3pm with a presentation about SuperTrash and signing copies of this assault on your senses.

Richmond, VA: Don't be tardy! Starting at 6 pm, Janet Hamlin will be giving a lecture at the University of Richmond recounting her experiences as the only person allowed to visually capture the courtroom during the Guantanamo Bay trials. Her drawings have been collected in Sketching Guantanamo, and this lecture will kick off a new limited engagement exhibit at the University featuring her work. (More Details)

Friday, September 12

Portland, OR: The Pacific Northwest College of Arts presents the Super Trash exhibit, a celebration and exploration of exploitative art and images of cinema. Currated by Jacques Boyreau, author of the upcoming book, Super Trash, the exhibit runs in conjuction with weekly films at the Laurelhurst Theater; today's film is the monster classic, Every Which Way but Loose. (More Details)

Saturday, September 13

Bethesda, MD: Dang, kids. Is it that time of year again? The biggest and bestest small press and alternative comic shindig, Small Press Expo is back! Doors open at 11 am, and there is a veritable slew of people to see, things to buy, and panels to attend. Jacq and Gary Groth will be holding down daily signings at booth w57-61, which today includes: Eleanor Davis, Ed Piskor, Drew Friedman, Chuck Forsman and many, many others. Get the full breakdown of the best weekend of your life here.

Seattle, WA: The gorgeously oversized art book, Film Noir 101, will be the subject of a new in store installment at the Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery starting today! And to begin this new feature, author of the book, Mark Fertig will be giving a slide presentation at 6 pm, with a signing to follow. (More Details)

Sunday, September 14

Bethesda, MD: Above is a map to help you remember where the best SPX booth will be. Along with more signings, more panels, and more awesome, are a slew of debut books that you wont even find in stores yet: BUMF, The Lonesome Go, Fukitor. My fingers would fall off if I tried to list them all here. Since Jen already typed her little fingers off with the full rundown, check out her post! Doors open at 12 noon!

Monday, September 15

Cambridge, MA: Today, beginning at 7 pm, Ed Piskor will be kicking it old and new school at the halls of Harvard University with a discussion of his Hip Hop Family Tree series. It's free and open to the public, with a signing to follow! (More Details)

Takoma Park, MD:Eleanor Davis, hot off of her weekend at SPX, will be giving a beautiful slideshow presentation as a part of their Politics and Prose series. Her most recent book, How to be Happyis the topic of discussion for this moving a personal presentaion and discussion. Library events are the best events, so get some social capital at our nation's capitol. Presentation begins at 7:30 pm. (More Details)

As one of the only sketch artists allowed to witness the 9/11 trials, since audio and recordign equipment are banned, Hamlin was presented with unique challenges in relaying some of the only visual evidence of the trials. If you're a lecture person, this is on your must see list. If you're not a lecture person, you will be after hearing this fascinating story.

Providence, RI: Rhode Island School of Design will host Janet Hamlin, as she presents a lecture on her book Sketching Guantanamo, and her experience at the military tribunal of Guantanamo Bay as the official courtroom artist. Begins at 4:30 pm. Open to the public! (More details)

Toronto, Canada: World Balloon Academy, presented by TCAF, is featuring a whole series of events during the convention, including one by Trina Robbins on Women Cartoonists. Check out this presentation at 4:15 pm, and many others all weekend long! (More details)

Saturday, May 10th

Toronto, Canada: Fantagraphics and its heroines, The Jen Vaughn and Jacq (Attack) Cohen, will be at the Toronto Comics and Art Festival all weekend! Click here for more details about our signing schedule, artist spotlights and presentations, and debut books!

Seattle, WA: The Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery will be hosting alternative comics guru, Peter Bagge, for the gallery opening of his new book, Buddy Buys a Dump. Join us at 6 pm for special music, original art, and a book signing. The art exhibition will continue through July 9th. (More details)

The Rhode Island School for Design is happy to have Janet Hamlin a guest speaker on Wednesday, May 7th in Providence, RI. Hamlin will be talking about her time as the official courtroom artists at the military tribunal of Guantanamo Bay, from 2006 until NOW. RISD is one of the premiere art schools on the East Coast and Hamlin will not only be speaking but giving a drawing demo the next day for the students.

Published in a book called Sketching Guantanamo, Hamlin's drawings and her accompanying text provide rare insight into the military courts of Guantanamo. Guantanamo Bay is one of the most carefully censored trials in recent U.S. history and these sketches are the only visuals the world is allowed to see. The lecture will take place at 4:30PM in the Auditorium at the Chace Center, 20 North Main Street, Providence, RI on Wednesday, May 7th.

Portland is priviledged to host the next installment of the national Illustration Conference, ICON, and on Saturday, July 12th, they welcome special guest, visual journalist Janet Hamlin!

"Author and illustrator Janet Hamlin has been where very few journalists or artists have dared to tread. Ms. Hamlin has had a front seat to history as the only courtroom artist to sketch the military tribunals in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Her drawings and accompanying text provide rare insight to the military court and are the only visuals the world is allowed to see."

Registration to the conference is required to attend. No tickets for individual main stage sessions will be sold. A "Day Rate" ticket will be announced later depending on availability. ICON8: The Illustration Conference will be held across Portland from July 9-12, 2014.

Please join us in Georgetown at Fantagraphics Bookstore on Saturday, December 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM as we host a reception and book signing with Janet Hamlin. Her fascinating book, Sketching Guantanamo, captures the conditions faced by detainees in the makeshift island internment compound.

Journalists at Guantanamo were subject to draconian security measures. Courtroom photography was banned. As a result, Hamlin's deft imagery provides the only visual record of these unparalleled proceedings. According to The New York Times, "When future historians search back in time to 'Camp Justice' and the rigidly controlled, tightly censored terrorist trials in Guantánamo, Cuba, they will likely linger over the vivid courtroom sketches of Janet Hamlin." The Stranger declares, "This is important."

Please join us at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery on Saturday, December 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM as we host a reception and book signing with Janet Hamlin. Her fascinating book, Sketching Guantanamo, captures the conditions faced by detainees in the makeshift island internment compound. Hamlin served as the media pool sketch artist, and was among a handful of journalists to bear witness to the military tribunals of accused terrorists and “enemy combatants.” Neither sentimental nor didactic, Hamlin’s evocative drawings provide a revealing look at this enigmatic episode of American jurisprudence.

Journalists at Guantanamo were subject to draconian security measures. Their living and working conditions were arduous. Courtroom photography was banned. As a result, Hamlin’s deft imagery provides the only visual record of these unparalleled proceedings. Her work was subject to approval by not only the military authorities but also the defendants themselves. Hamlin boldly persevered, and her chronicle of this unprecedented period of American history is captivating.

This inspiring artist will appear on December 28 at an informal reception and book signing event at Fantagraphics Bookstore, located at 1201 S. Vale Street in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown art community. We can’t wait to meet her.

Don't miss a minute of the action at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery this holiday season. We kick off the fun on Saturday, December 7 with an extraordinary event featuring Sub Pop founder Bruce Pavitt. His new book, Experiencing Nirvana: Grunge in Europe, 1989 documents a pivotal period in late 20th century pop culture. In an improbable effort to attract international attention to the fledgling label, Sub Pop sent Nirvana, Mudhoney, and TAD to Europe. Pavitt chronicled the triumphant tour with candid observations and captivating images. Members of all three bands will attend this monumental party. Georgetown Records will have recently reissued vinyl from the featured groups and the bookstore will stock merchandise from last summer's Sub Pop Silver Jubilee. See you all this Saturday at 6:00.

Celebrate seven years of Fantagraphics Bookstore on Saturday, December 14 with "cARToons: The Art of Alternative Comix" featuring Jeremy Eaton, Ellen Forney, Damon Gentry, John Ohannesian, Jesse Reklaw, and Jim Woodring. Exhibiting artists will be on hand to sign recent publications. This festive holiday gala coincides with the colorful Georgetown Art Attack from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Listen for wandering carolers from Choir of the Sound featuring our own Lynn Emmert.

On Saturday, December 28 join us as we host a reception and book signing with Janet Hamlin. Her fascinating book, Sketching Guantanamo, captures the conditions faced by detainees in the makeshift island prison. As a courtroom sketch artist, Hamlin was among a handful of journalists to bear witness to the military tribunals of accused terrorists and "enemy combatants." Neither sentimental nor didactic, Hamlin's evocative drawings provide a revealing look at this enigmatic episode of American jurisprudence. We can't wait to meet her.